JULY 2017
Vietnam 50 Years Later 7 Free and Fun Outdoor Kid’s Activities from a Homeschool Mom 5 Biggest Home Birth Considerations for Expectant Moms
HERE FOR YOU. At INTEGRIS, we are proud to say we’re Oklahoma’s largest health care system. And because we have specialists in more areas of care, we make certain that you have access to The Most Challenging Healing ™. INTEGRIS HEALTH EDMOND CAMPUS INTEGRIS HEALTH EDMOND HOSPITAL Services include 24/7 Emergency Room, Med/Surg and ICU Patient Rooms, Women’s Center, Surgery & Endoscopy, Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Diagnostic Imaging 4801 INTEGRIS Parkway Between 2nd & 15th on I-35 Access Road East 405-657-3000 PHYSICIANS BUILDING 4509 INTEGRIS Parkway INTEGRIS ENT & FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY Scott Shadfar, M.D. 405-657-3895 INTEGRIS JIM THORPE REHABILITATION Suite 100 | 405-657-3800 INTEGRIS FAMILY CARE EDMOND EAST Chris Hayes, M.D., Family Medicine Douglas Riddle, M.D., Family Medicine Justin Sparkes, D.O., Internal Medicine Heather Wheeler, D.O., Family Medicine Elizabeth Montgomery, PA-C, Family Medicine Suite 200 | 405-657-3950 PHYSICIANS BUILDING 4833 INTEGRIS Parkway INTEGRIS ORTHOPEDICS EDMOND J. Keith Gannaway, M.D John Gruel, M.D., Non-Operative Austin Taylor, M.D., Sports Medicine Suite 150 | 405-657-3990
INTEGRIS CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSICIANS Azhar Amil, M.D. Timothy Daly, M.D. Lance Garner, M.D. Santosh Prabhu, M.D. Steven Reiter, M.D. Gary Worcester, M.D. Suite 150 | 405-948-4040 INTEGRIS EDMOND PHARMACY First Floor | 405-657-3900 INTEGRIS WOMEN’S CARE Julie Hansen, M.D., OB/GYN Dena O’Leary, M.D., Urogynecology Courtney Seacat, M.D., OB/GYN Katherine Shepherd, D.O., OB/GYN Elisa Sparkes, D.O., OB/GYN Laura Stearman, M.D., Female Urology Suite 200 | 405-657-3825 INTEGRIS PAIN MANAGEMENT Atul Walia, D.O. Michael McLaughlin, D.O. Suite 150 | 405-945-4359
INTEGRIS FAMILY CARE COFFEE CREEK Joel Grubbs, D.O., Family Medicine Emily Reed, M.D., Internal Medicine/Pediatrics S. Christopher Shadid, M.D., Family Medicine Brittany Cabrera, PA-C 2916 N. Kelly Avenue 405-715-5300 INTEGRIS ORTHOPEDICS EDMOND Michael Williams, M.D. 2916 N. Kelly Avenue 405-715-5320 INTEGRIS FAMILY CARE EDMOND RENAISSANCE Audrey Goodwin, M.D., Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Doug Haynes, M.D., Family Medicine Caroline Merritt, D.O., Internal Medicine Brooke Nida, M.D., Pediatrics Amie Prough, M.D., Pediatrics Grand Wong, M.D., Family Medicine 1700 Renaissance Blvd. 405-844-4300
INTEGRIS HEALTH EDMOND GENERAL SURGERY Patrick Bell, M.D., General Surgery Joshua Carey, M.D., General Surgery 405-657-3690
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Features 8 Maybe I should move? That’s what I was thinking the last few months. So I talked to a realtor. Did you know that there is no “a” in the middle of that word? I have always pronounced it with 3 syllables - real-a-tor. Well I’ve been duly corrected. Onward. I live a small footprint existence in a large footprint house. It’s just me, my dog and a cat I feed regularly but rarely see. I have the upstairs blocked off with a baby gate which functions quite well as a doggie gate. I am a prime candidate for downsizing, but then I remember buying, selling and moving is a lot of work - and a lot of stress. Besides, there’s enough real estate stuff going on all around me... My stepdaughter and son-in-law put their house up for sale in Colorado and are moving back to Edmond (yay - I’ll have my grandkids nearby). The Denver area just wasn’t for them. Out in southern California, my dad’s house just went on the market. He passed away in March. My sisters and I are sad to see it go - he loved that house. There are a lot of family memories there but it will make a great home for another family. I’ve been spending my Sunday afternoons at open houses all over this fine city. Alison is selling her house in Deer Creek and is house hunting in Edmond and North OKC. And finally, I recently closed on five city lots on Hurd Street downtown. Kind of exciting. Kind of scary. I plan to build an office for my businesses, Back40 Design and the Outlook magazine. Hopefully, we’ll break ground in the fall. All these changes put any thoughts for moving on hold. Besides, I like Chimney Hill. My neighbors are great. I like being near Hafer Park, I-35 and Spring Creek, and the hazelnut coffee at Panera. For now, I’ll keep living in my small footprint life and I will do my best to keep the word “realtor” to two syllables.
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THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL SCENE
Try a new ice cream shop for National Ice Cream Day BACK TO THE BATTLEFIELD
Vietnam Veteran visits site on 50th anniversary of infamous battle
5 OF THE BIGGEST HOME BIRTH CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS
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Certified professional midwife answers some of the most frequent concerns about home births
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7 EASY AND FREE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR KIDS
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Homeschool mom offers ideas on how to get your kids learning and exploring outside this summer THE UNSTOPPABLE, INCOMPARABLE BOB
This vivacious 85-year-old shares some of his wit and wisdom
Business
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QUAIL SPRINGS DENTAL CARE
A skilled dental team that can handle everything in house CERTIFIED AUTO SPECIALISTS
Specializing in open and honest vehicle repair
Columns 26
DR. J. DAVID CHAPMAN
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LOUISE TUCKER JONES
Edmond’s Romance with Trains A Patch of Heaven
Dave Miller Back40Design, President
ADVERTISING l Laura Beam at 405-301-3926 l laura@edmondoutlook.com MAILED MONTHLY TO 50,000 HOMES IN EDMOND/NORTH OKC 80 East 5th Street, Suite 130, Edmond, OK 73034 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@edmondoutlook.com July 2017 Volume 13, Number 7
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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.
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© 2017 Back40 Design, Inc.
PUBLISHER Dave Miller l ADVERTISING MANAGER Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Adrian Townsend l EDITOR Tara Lynn Thompson PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins l www.sundancephotographyokc.com l DISTRIBUTION Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond & North OKC homes. Articles and advertisements in the Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by the Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
FOODLOOK
Celebrate July 17th--it’s National Ice Cream Day! And this year, the ice cream social is a whole new scene in Edmond. New businesses around every corner are serving up delightful varieties and bringing back a sense of community along with it. 1 SUPER SCOOP 419 S LITTLER AVENUE Guests gathered around picnic tables on the lawn and front porch while children played yard games and adorned the sidewalk with chalk masterpieces. The atmosphere, the staff, and, of course, the ice cream, make this charming cottage-based business simply perfection. My 6-year-old couldn’t get enough of his in-house made Andes Mint Chocolate Chip (or his color-changing spoon)! 2 ROLLING ICE CREAM AND CREPES 309 S BRYANT AVE My kiddos were mesmerized by the creation of the sweet treat as it transformed right in front of their eyes from liquid to rolled ice cream. Go for the Mrs. Reese’s with chocolate wafers and you will not be disappointed. 3 ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD 150TH AND PENN Can’t beat the “Jitterbug Concrete.” Anything that combines vanilla frozen custard and espresso is a winner in my book. If you haven’t tried frozen custard, you are missing out. It has a thicker consistency than ice cream, thanks to its added ingredient of pasteurized egg yolk, and it is egg-cellent (pun intended). Don’t take my word for it, you can create your own custom combination!!
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4 ELLIS ISLAND 130 N. BROADWAY This is one island my family would love to be stranded on. This combination wine bar and coffee shop has something for everyone and on the evening we visited there was also live music. Gelato is an Italian creation similar to ice cream and custard but with a denser taste experience. The peanut butter cup flavor was a family favorite. 5 ROXY’S ICE CREAM SOCIAL OAK GROVE (122ND & N. MACARTHUR) AND PLAZA DISTRICT Some men bring home flowers, some men write love notes…my husband brings home Roxy’s. Most, if not all, wrongs are made right with a pint of their salted caramel! Husbands take note-Roxy’s is opening an Edmond location in Covell Village. So, what will it be: ice cream, custard, gelato? Decisions, decisions! Luckily, you live in Edmond where you have all the resources you need to make this important life choice! I wish you all the best in your research and a Happy National Ice Cream Day in advance.
An Edmond resident of 5 years, Bethany Schwarz is the mother of 3 active children (6, 5, and 18m). She is in pursuit of building community while getting to know her neighbors through story and shared experience.
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© 2017 DURACELL, Bethel, CT 06801. Duracell is a registered trademark of Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc., used under license. All rights reserved. *Free install with purchase of a car or light truck battery, on most vehicles, at participating locations.
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HOMELOOK
Building a new home is exhilarating and exciting and, without a doubt, completely stressful. There are a thousand and one details to consider. So where to begin? Shawn Forth, owner of Shawn Forth Homes, has been working with families and individuals in the Oklahoma City area for 25 years to help them find the right place and space for their future. With his years of knowledge and expertise, he offered the five most important questions to ask yourself when wanting to build.
1 What do you like about your current home? What do you not like?
Even though your new home will be new and different, it can still implement amenities, styles, and areas about your current home that you love. Make a list of everything you’d love to keep about your home and everything you’d gladly remove. This will help in deciding floor plans.
2 What are your future needs? Consider your long-term needs, as well as your current ones. For
small families, that may mean more room. For empty nesters, that may mean less. Forth recommends reviewing everything you need to add or subtract, such as a nursery, mother-in-law suite, additional bathroom, or bonus bedroom.
3 Where do you need to live in comparison to your life outside of the home?
Consider how close your home should be to your work, grocery store, friends, the area hospital, and the nearest highway.
4 What kind of community amenities do you want? Many neighborhoods are tailored toward families and individuals in certain times of their life, such as neighborhoods more focused on empty nesters or communities more focused on children. Consider the amenities you will want in your neighborhood, such as a community pool, playground, sidewalks, gated communities, etc.
5 How much do you plan to spend? For buyers who base their budget on a monthly payment, Forth
recommends being preapproved before speaking with a builder. The more the builder knows, including the expected budget, the closer they can get to providing the right floor plan and community of your dreams. SHAWN FORTH HOMES shawnforthhomes.com 405-578-4636 10
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Lawn Care STAY GREEN
Is the dry, hot weather attacking your lawn? Keep it lush, alive, and green with a smart sprinkler system. You can control the water from your smart phone, sync it with weather.com, and adjust sprinklers automatically to maximize efficiency and water conservation, says Andy Nelson of Nelson Landscaping. Be sure to ask about their industry-leading sprinkler repair pricing and schedule your free consultation to discuss this exciting new smart feature. NELSON LANDSCAPING nelsonlawnservice.com 405-202-4120
Exterior Painting IT’S ALL IN THE TIMING
If you’re ready to brighten up your home’s appearance but wondering when is the best time to paint your exterior, the answer is, ‘now.’ “For Oklahoma, the drier summer months are the perfect time to tackle that exterior home painting job,” says Kevin Calmes of Legacy Painting. LEGACY PAINTING mylegacypainter.com 405-286-5163
Remodeling A KITCHEN AND BATHROOM REFRESHER
Make a major impact on your living space by focusing your remodeling efforts on your kitchen and bathroom, the two most frequently used rooms in your home, says Mindi Burns, project manager and designer for Greg Burns Construction, LLC, which has specialized in full-scale kitchen and bathroom remodels and custom cabinetry for over 20 years. When you can’t afford a complete remodel but still want a significant change, she recommends these kitchen and bath retouches: 1
Lighten your orangey, traditional woodwork with brighter paint
2
Add new drawer and door fronts, and replace the knobs on your cabinets
3
Replace your wallpaper or laminate backsplashes with colorful mosaic tile
4
Transform countertops by replacing old formica with granite or marble
GREG BURNS CONSTRUCTION, LLC gregburnsconstruction.com (405) 474-7009
JULY 2017
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FEATURELOOK
By Tara Lynn Thompson
Vietnam Veteran visits site of infamous battle on 50th Anniversary Billy Terrill rode the muddy waters of the Mekong River in Vietnam toward the battlefield. Beside him, 20 of his brothers in arms were prepared and counting off the moments. Each knew what they would be facing because they’d all faced it before. Exactly 50 years earlier. To the day. To the hour. To the minute. Now, thanks to the Greatest Generations Foundation (GGF) and their War Without Heroes Initiative, they were returning to the site of their worst memory. “The trip let me go back to a place that was the most traumatic day of my life,” says Terrill, an Edmond resident and highlydecorated Vietnam Veteran. “I went back to see the things I thought I’d never see again, except in my dreams. But, thanks to the Greatest Generations Foundation, I was able to set foot on hallowed ground.” The GGF, an international non-government organization, was started by Timothy Davis to help combat veterans return to their former battlegrounds, to cemeteries, and to memorials as a way to honor the sacrifice of the veterans, both those who survived their service and for their brothers who did not. For Terrill, that meant returning to a time he spent in miserable conditions, like sleeping in trees to stay out of the mud and warring with indigenous predators, like snakes, leaches, and mosquitos. It meant returning to a place previously known as a major stronghold of the communist Viet Cong. It meant walking on ground previously drenched in American blood and returning to a day exactly five decades later that took 32 of his fellow company men and 46 Americans in all. It was June 19, 1967 when Alpha Company, part of the 9th Infantry Division, headed to this particular location outside the town of Ap Bac. As a unit, the boys had been drafted together, trained at Ft. Wiley together, shipped overseas together, and now headed into a day that, together, many wouldn’t live to tell about and those who did would never forget. Continued on pg 16
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FEATURELOOK Continued from pg 14
As part of the U.S. Mobile Riverine Force, a joint U.S. Army and U.S. Navy force, Terrill and his company were stationed on a Navy ship in the Mekong River and then taken by boat to specific areas in the region no one else could reach. On that day, he and his company had no idea they were headed into a perfect ambush. “We were dropped off and Alpha Company walked into an L-shaped ambush. The VC opened up on us and took out most of the company within the first fives minutes,” Terrill recounts. The men were surrounded on three sides with 50-caliber machine guns, sniper rifles, and no place to take cover. Once the battle began, it went on throughout the night while survivors fought back, hunkered behind dikes, treated the wounded, and continued to do what they were sent to do - take out the Viet Cong, who lost 255 of their own during this battle. “I could hear the screaming, the bullets, the radio traffic, the helicopter gunships coming in, and the constant artillery rounds,” said Terrill, who was in a canal on the edge of the battlefield and eventually rescued that evening by additional Navy support. “You don’t know what’s happening, if you’re going to get out or what it’s going to be like if you do. You don’t know if you’ve lost everybody. Those poor guys that had to lay there all night long, they were just trying to survive and take care of their brother.”
Returning to that day and that area where Alpha company suffered an 85% loss of life not only gave Terrill a chance to honor his fallen brothers, he said it also gave him a peaceful memory to change his 50year nightmare. “You realized things are not the same. The country is not the same. The people are not the same. Even the terrain is not the same,” he said. While there, Terrill attended a memorial service at a museum erected on the very battlefield. He said he was amazed and proud to see the museum, not only honored their own fallen, but paid great respect and admiration to the American soldiers who fought that day, too. He was also able to meet with former Viet Cong soldiers and discuss their shared history. “I have a feeling of peace now and my brothers have that same peace,” says Terrill, who was one of 21 combat veterans who went on the GGF-sponsored program. “We have a peace knowing we did all we could do in a terrible situation as 20-year-old kids. Our country called us to duty and we tried to make a difference. I expected the people to be apprehensive or even mad, but they weren’t. They appreciate and understand what we did. We got to see that we really did do good.”
Alpha Company, left to right: Ralph Mecka, Michael Lethcoe, David Rodarte, Edward (Sonny) Castellano, Randolph (Randy) Torres, Billy Terrill.
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OPEN 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK! 821 W. Freeman Ave., Perkins, OK 74059 405-547-5352 • LIKE US ON OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE IOWA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA.
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BIZLOOK can handle everything in house, from the patient’s root canal to dental implants and Invisalign. “We’re a full-service office, which means we can do pretty much every procedure that may be needed,” Hunter said. “Instead of referring people around to different specialists’ offices for consultations and treatments, we’re basically a one-stop shop.”
By Morgan Day
Dr. Craig Hunter, D.D.S., recalls a patient who made his way to Quail Springs Dental Care after one doctor’s referral to see a string of other specialists. The patient’s original dentist referred him to three separate offices to see an orthodontist, an oral surgeon and an endodontist. Offering a second opinion, Hunter told the patient that he didn’t have to jump from specialist to specialist. His skilled dental team
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Quail Springs Dental Care, located at 14221 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite C, is also in-network for nearly all PPO insurance plans. Opened in late 2014, the office features brand new, stateof-the-art imaging and diagnostic equipment.
Dr. Hunter and Dr. Koontz, both lifelong Oklahoma City residents, earned their undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma. They believe their homegrown roots help them establish a rapport with each person who walks in the door. “I love everything about what I do. I get to wake up every day and go to work and help take care of people,” Hunter said. “And I love getting to take care of Oklahomans. I know the heartbeat of the state and I think that helps as far as relating to your patients.”
When describing dental partner Dr. Natalie Koontz and the Quail Springs dental team, one word comes to mind for Hunter, and that’s “passionate.” “We’re a very passionate office,” he said. “Our goal is to provide world-class service from the first phone call to the completion of treatment and maintenance of your overall oral health. We’re very service-oriented, and we pride ourselves on that. We try to be as attentive as possible and serve patients the way we would want to be served.”
Quail Springs Dental Care is accepting new patients. To learn more, visit quailspringsdentalcare.com or call (405) 775-0033.
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FEATURELOOK
Photos by Sarah Hester
The sweetest sound you’ll ever hear is the first cry of your newborn child. Expectant mothers wait for, what often feels like, an eternity to hear that sound. With all the unknowns and questions that arise as a parent, the one that often comes first is where and how to bring your child into the world. Is a hospital or home birth better for you and your child? And are there any other alternatives?
Susan Smartt Cook, CPM
With the recent May opening of the Edmond Birthing Center, we wanted a more in-depth personal, firsthand experience of midwifery. So, we sat down with Susan Smartt Cook, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) since 2010, the president of the Oklahoma Midwives Alliance (OMA), and an Edmond resident, to discuss the topic of home births. Cook, who has attended nearly 300 births, talked about what expectant mothers often want to know when considering an out of hospital birth.
Medical concerns
Out of hospital birth with a trained midwife involves vigilant monitoring of both the mother and baby. We listen to fetal heart tones throughout labor, monitor maternal vitals, and constantly assess the whole picture to ensure everything is within the range of normal.
No ticking clock
What struck me most during my first home birth, after attending hospital births as a doula, was the different sense of time and space at home. Home birth is much more relaxed. Birth is allowed to unfold spontaneously while the client eats her own food, naps in her own bed, and soaks in her own bathtub.
Sanitization and cleanliness concerns
Many people have questions about cleanliness in the home versus the hospital. We’ve learned so much in recent years about the importance of seeding babies’ microbiomes with good bacteria through vaginal birth, skin to skin contact with the mother, and breastfeeding. Home birth facilitates all of these things and brings the baby into its ‘home environment’ in the most literal sense, colonizing the baby with microbes from home and family rather than those from hospital surfaces and staff. 20
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Continuity of care
As a midwife, I provide continuity of care, meaning my clients will have support from me and my team throughout their prenatal care, birth, and postpartum period. Midwifery care is holistic. We address our clients’ physical, psychological, and social well-being. We talk through their fears and hopes, and we help them understand and embrace what their body is capable of. We provide continuous support during active labor offering encouragement, comfort measures, and suggestions for partners to get involved. We continue to provide support for at least six weeks postpartum with both home and office visits.
The Birth Center option
Many women want an out of hospital birth, but don’t feel comfortable planning a home birth either because of space constraints, other children at home, or distance from the nearest hospital. For them, and for others who are looking for a birthtime ‘getaway’ but don’t want to go to the hospital, the Edmond Birthing Center is ideal. It’s a beautiful, relaxing space with three birth rooms furnished with comfortable beds, large tubs, showers, birth balls, and more. It’s a very exciting addition to the community.
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BIZLOOK Auto Specialists, we’re as transparent as we can be. We take what the dealership does and cut all the fat off of it and make it a lean transaction to repair your car. If your car doesn’t need something, we won’t do it.”
By Morgan Day
Twenty-five years of hearing the same complaints over and over can drive a person crazy. One day, mechanic Tim Hayali had had enough of hearing customers at the automotive dealership he worked at rant about the fees tacked onto their service bills. The longtime mechanic decided to make a change. Hayali opened Certified Auto Specialists, 13841 N. Lincoln Blvd., three years ago and has never looked back. “As a mechanic, I would be in the parts department and the customers would be purchasing their items and complaining about the prices, the fees and the upselling,” he said. “When I opened my own business, I knew I didn’t want to hear that anymore. At Certified
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Certified Auto Specialists and the small team of capable technicians can tackle repairs of all sizes, specializing in air conditioning and heat repairs, brake repairs, general auto repairs and oil changes. Hayali and his team pride themselves on giving thorough, easy-to-understand explanations when it comes to why a vehicle needs repaired and what the service entails. It’s an open and honest approach to business that’s led to many word-of-mouth referrals, which is one of the main ways customers find out about the business, he said. After being embedded in the Edmond community for 30 years, he knows it’s important to leave every customer with a positive impression because their recommendations fuel his business. Hayali says most customers view his business as an affordable alternative to the dealership, which can charge upwards of $150 an hour for service.
“What I hear the most from our customers is, ‘Finally I found a mechanic I can trust,’” Hayali said. “They don’t have to worry about me running them through the ringer.” To learn more about Certified Auto Specialists, visit certifiedautookc.com or call (405) 302-8695.
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FEATURELOOK
As a non-crafty-homeschooling mother of three boys, I understand the pressure of living a pinterestworthy life. Moms are always expected to be stocked with a closet of kids craft supplies, like every shade of craft paper, pom poms, and pipe cleaners. By Tori Caswell
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
I’m here to tell you that isn’t realistic. It just isn’t. It also isn’t necessary for your child’s learning and development. Instead, give yourself a break. Children actually learn best when they are given tools, support and encouragement, not riged rules and strict expectations. Remember, for children, these projects are about the process, not the product. This is why they can spend hours filling a bucket with sand and dumping it. Over and over. Children create themselves through play. They learn from doing. So don’t worry. Even when your project is a complete flop, it happens! This is real life and real life means things rarely go according to plan. What children need most isn’t a perfect activity, but time with you as they process, explore, and learn.
With this in mind, here are 7 Easy and FREE outdoor activities for your kids to try this summer:
Float or sink
Choose several containers, like plastic tubs or pots and pans. Have the kids help you fill them with water. Then hypothesize if these objects will sink or float. Test each item. And play!
Ice cube observation
Take ice cubes outside and observe them melting. Place them in different spots, such as a cup of cold or warm water. What happens? Kids will be learning about solid and liquid states.
Nature journal
Use string or staples to create a homemade book. Then, tape samples of leaves, flowers, and seeds to the pages. Teach your kids how to use their five senses to observe what’s around them. Have them draw pictures of things too big to place in the book. This can be done daily as a way of enjoying routine.
Bike/wagon/scooter wash
Wash outside toys by hand using a bucket of soapy water and rags. Rinse and repeat. Encourage your children to pretend by acting out being a customer and employee.
Paint with natural brushes
Go on a scavenger hunt for anything that could be used to apply paint to paper. Then set up some paint and paper and see how they work! This may morph into finger painting.
Play dress up outside
Hats, shirts, bags, capes, buckets, whatever you have that is or could be used to dress up, encourage pretend and imagination by moving this activity outside for the day.
Scavenger hunt
Create a simple hunt tailored to the season and age of your kids. Send them out with a sack to gather treasures. How many different kinds of leaves can they find? With older kids, hand over your phone and a list and task them with taking pictures of everything on the list - a bird, a bug, an anthill, a cloud. They’ll love showing you their pictures!
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CITYLOOK By Dr. J. David Chapman
Recently, Amtrak announced their consideration of expanding passenger train service from Fort Worth through Oklahoma City into Kansas. They performed an “inspection train” run from OKC to Kansas City to determine the feasibility of potentially adding passenger train service. While it would be nice to connect OKC to Kansas City, the most important stop is Newton, Kansas. The Southwest Chief, an Amtrak line providing service from Chicago to Los Angeles, stops in the small Kansas town making it an intriguing location for the Heartland Flyer. On “inspection train” day, hundreds of Edmond citizens supported the train as it rumbled through town by holding up signs,
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waving, and cheering its arrival. Edmond’s romance with trains originates before statehood. Edmond was originally known as “Summit” because it was the highest point on the rail line. Our city was founded out of necessity to service the train with coal, water, ice, and food. The train has since lost its attraction in Edmond, turning from romance to nuisance. With as many as 40 freight trains roaring through the city on any given day, citizens frequently find themselves inconvenienced by the trains. The sounding of the train horns is also shown to reduce employee productivity and real estate property values in their areas. The competitive nature of commercial real estate and the economic value of attracting companies have led to “quiet zones” on railways that run through urban areas. Edmond officials have decided to study the need for a quiet zone, while progressive cities in the metropolitan area have already implemented quiet zones through their downtowns. The Edmond Chamber and Economic Authority, as well as commercial real estate professionals, are all trying to attract development in our downtown area. As I stood watching people’s excitement as the train approached, I wondered,
“What is in it for Edmond?” I am an advocate for public transportation, however, it is my understanding that an Edmond station is not under consideration for the route. The planned stops are Norman, OKC, and Guthrie. Without an Edmond stop, we will simply experience even more congestion and disruption, and minimal economic benefit. While I loved the passionate response our citizens had to the approaching Amtrak train, I wish that passion was shown in implementing quite zones.
Dr. J. David Chapman is an Associate Professor of Finance & Real Estate at UCO (jchapman7@uco.edu).
Genuine Hand Scraped Wood Floors Installed (minimum of 300 sq. ft.)
Time to say out with the old tile and carpet and in with new wood floors. Are you dreaming of new wood floors, but dread the mess associated with tearing out your tile? Are you tired of your 70’s carpet, but the thought of working with unreliable installers stop you in your tracks? Kregger’s Floors and More is here to help. Not only does Paul Kregger and his crew offer outstanding friendly and dependable service, but they have also created a system that eliminates many of the hassles most associated with tile removal. Their new dust collection system minimizes the dust. Although their technique is not dust-free, Kregger says it is “light-years ahead of the rest.” With most companies, replacing tile can take a week or more. Besides eliminating much of the dust, with Kreggers, your floor can be free of tile and prepped for new flooring in no time. “Most people think that the task of replacing tile is more construction than they want to deal with. With our manpower and no ‘middle man,’ your tile can be gone in as little as one day!” said Kregger. The installers are what set Kregger’s apart. This ensures customers are getting someone who knows and shows skills he’s familiar with to install their flooring. “In some stores the installers are folks the store has known maybe a day, maybe a year. It’s hard to say. At Kregger’s all of our installers are long-time
employees or family members.” Edmondite Christy Dowell says, “We have a home full of Kregger’s floors! New wood floors, tile floors, rugs, a shower and soon to be carpet. Paul and Chris and the rest of their crew have been a pleasure to work with; always courteous, respectful and punctual. They are also very trustworthy. We left our home to them for a week and came back to beautiful wood floors. It seems to me that ‘satisfaction’ is their number one goal...and I am completely satisfied! I highly recommend Kregger’s Floors and More.” Kreggers is now offering an unbeatable $5.99 psf on genuine Mohawk hand-scraped wood
If wood’s not what you’re looking for, come browse through our amazing selection of carpet and tile! Also ask about our complete bathroom remodels.
www.kreggers.com
$ Must mention Outlook. Exp. 7/31/17
floors installed. “What every customer is looking for is great quality at a great price. With our low overhead environment, they always get a great price and workmanship that’s second to none.” For more information call 348-6777 or stop by the store at 2702 S. Broadway in Edmond.
225 OFF 500
Not Valid With 12-Month-No-Interest Offer. Must mention Outlook. Exp. 7/31/17
ALOOKBACK By Louise Tucker Jones
A Patch of
Heaven
But there was another difference. The Waltons had indoor plumbing and we didn’t. Nor did we have a television, telephone or even closets in the bedrooms. But we had outside haylofts to jump out of and a maze of hay bales to crawl through in the barn. There were ponds and creeks, as well as a junkyard up the dirt road to explore. There were also plenty of out buildings, including a silo, grain bin, smokehouse and more.
I often enjoy watching the Waltons on TV because our lives seemed so similar. I grew up on a farm with five siblings but have to admit the Walton house was a little fancier than ours with that lovely front porch and dormer windows. Our sheet-iron roof pitched downward to small, sliding upstairs windows. Downstairs, the wind often caused the old, worn linoleum on the floor to rise and fall while curtains flared around drafty windows. And those bare, wood steps on the stairway were a delight to this energetic young girl, jumping over the last few descending ones against my mother’s wishes.
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in front of my bedroom heater to keep the tiny chicks warm. It worked like an incubator and I felt like their mama. It was a great way to grow up and I sometimes miss hearing the slamming of that old screen door, drawing water from the well, and feeding sugar to Honey, our horse that would walk up onto the back porch and stick her head inside the open door for a treat. I also miss the two-story stone building where I attended twelve years of school, as well as the little country church and general store. But, most of all, I miss the people and the safe feeling of community that surrounded me in that little patch of heaven called “Wilson.”
I guess my favorite things on the farm were the baby animals, from curly-headed newborn calves to squealing piglets. And, when fuzzy, baby chicks needed special care, Daddy brought them to me. I would wrap them in a towel then place them in a metal bucket
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows. LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.
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OFF (”EDMONDOUTLOOK”, Cannot be combined, Exp. 9.31.17)
CUSTOM - MEANINGFUL - UNIQUE
15th & Bryant
- 405-330-0100
thevintagepearl.com JULY 2017
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FEATURELOOK
By Amy Dee Stephens
Bob Grant, a vivacious 85-yearold, has set records, watched history unfold, and used to hitch his horse in downtown Edmond. He’s lived big and learned big. His life experiences have given him incredible wisdom, which he’s willing to share. Oh, and he’s looking for a job, too.
Meet Bob. Bob, I understand you recently graduated from college… I got my bachelor’s in 2011, and I was the oldest person to ever graduate from the University of Central Oklahoma--so, I set a record. Then, I beat my own record when I got my master’s in Gerontology in 2015. That was the coolest graduation, because my four grown grandchildren were sitting eight feet from me. My mama would have been proud. You’ve also set a record in blood donations, right? I give my 550th blood donation this Friday. I started 41 years ago to help a friend having surgery. I used to coordinate blood drives when I was fleet manager at Saturn. We added 27,000 new donors to the donor base in seven years, and I’m really proud of that. Now, my picture is on a poster at every Oklahoma Blood Bank location. Tell me about the time you had a front seat to American history. I was cameraman for Channel 4 when civil rights activist, Clara Luper, organized the non-violent sit in at Katz Drug Store in downtown Oklahoma City. I covered the whole thing. Clara was genius for figuring out how to protest discrimination without it ending up in violence. Now, people can eat where they want to eat, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. I was a glad observer of that change.
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You were married for 58 years… When my wife’s health began to go downhill, I became her full-time caregiver. I’d recently lost my job--but nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. I needed to take care of her, and it was hard physically, mentally and emotionally. She’s the reason I went for my Gerontology degree, and I’m glad she got to see me get it---just not from here. Bob, why do you want a job? I’ve always been driven. Now that my wife’s gone, I would love to recruit adults to return to college, but nobody wants to pay me to do it. My salary would pay for Uber rides to work! But when you apply for a job online and you have to put that you graduated high school in 1950… nobody calls. You’ve had some personal tragedies in your life…. This past May would have been my daughter’s 54th birthday. She died from drugs and alcohol. Losing a child is life’s worst tragedy. I tried to get her sober for a decade, only to figure out that I had to get me sober. Now, I have 30 years with Alcoholics Anonymous. This week, I found some of her stuff that showed her desire to change, and it warmed my heart to know that she worked harder at sobriety than I thought. What does success mean to you? I used to think that success had to do with jobs, titles, cars, houses and financial statements, only to find out in my maturity that those don’t mean anything. What’s important is what you do for somebody else. Being of service. It means visiting with people in nursing homes who huddle around the nursing station just so they can see human activity. It means volunteering with hospice. It means caring for your sick wife. It means 550 blood donations.
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80 East 5th St., Ste. 130 Edmond, OK 73034
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